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Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album has few parallels. Viewed solely through the lens of sales numbers, Whitney Houston is a watershed statement on par with the most commercially successful and culturally dominant LPs ever released. Having sold more than 14 million copies in the U.S. and upwards of 25 million units worldwide, the 1985 LP became the equivalent of the television show or blockbuster film that everyone collectively experiences and discusses. Nearly four decades later, it’s lost none of its appeal or magnetism — and its artistic significance and historical import have only grown.


Sourced from the original master tapes, pressed at RTI on MoFi SuperVinyl, and strictly limited to 4,000 numbered copies, Mobile Fidelity's 180g SuperVinyl LP of Whitney Houston presents the breakthrough in audiophile sound for the first time. The signature traits Houston exhibits on every song — her three-octave range, radiant warmth, personal conviction, impossibly controlled register — come across with exceptional clarity, focus, and presence. Free of artificial ceilings and constricted dynamics, this reissue plays with an openness, airiness, and balance that put the singer’s once-in-a-lifetime instrument and immortal artistry into proper perspective.

It does the same for the songs’ cascading melodies and captivating arrangements. Individually produced by one of four renowned industry veterans — Kashif, Micheal Masser, Jermaine Jackson, and Narada Michael Walden — each composition feels grander, closer, more genuine. A vocal spectacular, Whitney Houston benefits from the high-end characteristics of SuperVinyl, which include a nearly inaudible noise floor, superb groove definition, and dead-quiet surfaces. This is how an album that changed the direction of popular music — opening previously inaccessible doors for Black artists; bringing smooth-singing vocalists back into the mainstream; kickstarting a movement that soon included several “divas” who would command the charts through the early 21st century — should look and sound.

Though Houston’s seemingly effortless performances suggest otherwise, creating the record Rolling Stone ranks as the 257th Greatest Album of All Time wasn’t easy. Nearly 18 months were required to identify songs suitable for a still-unknown singer who did not fit into the conventional frameworks of the mid ‘80s. Confident, powerful, and prodigiously talented, Houston would forge her own parameters with Whitney Houston. In the process, she obliterated the stubborn lines between R&B and pop, Black and white radio. She dared to reimagine who could be a superstar and then went out and defined the role. Recorded for nearly $400,000 and released on Valentine’s Day, the LP exceeded the wildest expectations of those most closely associated with it — save for Houston and her family.

Having made her first public appearance at the age of 11 singing at a Baptist church, Houston understood pressure and knew her way around, inside, and through a song. The invaluable guidance and support she received from her mother, Cissy, an accomplished gospel vocalist who backed Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley, are on display throughout Whitney Houston. They arrive in the types of authoritativeness, discipline, and diction rare for even most seasoned veterans — and unheard-of for a 21-year-old newcomer. Houston brings a soulful elegance, understated glamour, and in-the-moment rapture to every note. Moving up, down, or staying in the middle of the vocal ladder; channelling softness or sweetness; showing restraint or increasing the volume, she is a marvel of emotionalism, a dynamo who can seamlessly transition from one mood to another within a verse.

Though the 10-track LP largely concerns itself with the ballad tradition, Houston covers the bases, getting into an R&B groove on the fleet “Thinking About You,” turning up the heat on the duet “Take Good Care of My Heart,” and investing the contagious dance-pop confection “How Will I Know” with all the anxiety, hope, energy, and enthusiasm its lyrics demand. Featuring her mom on background vocals and Houston’s pitch-perfect tone, uncanny precision, and skyscraper highs (no AutoTune here, friends), the synth-based anthem propelled Whitney Houston into the stratosphere, the vocalist into regular MTV rotation, and the term “crossover” into popular parlance. The double-platinum single reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, Hot R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts — a trifecta that foreshadowed accomplishments that would ultimately crown Houston as the most-awarded female artist of all time.

Whitney Houston became the first album by a Black female performer to top the Billboard charts. It remained there for 14 non-consecutive weeks en route to claiming the title of the best-selling LP of 1986. It stands as the first debut and first album by a solo female artist to spawn three No. Hits, as well as the first album by a Black female artist to top the year-end charts in Australia and Canada. These are just a handful of the accolades — along with four Grammy nominations — that surround a set that also contains the unforgettable ballad “Saving All My Love,” string-accompanied “Greatest Love of All,” and sensual “You Give Good Love.”

As TIME observed in an article written two years after the album took the world by storm: “This is infectious, can't-sit-down music, and her performance dares the listener not to smile right back.” We’re still smiling.

Im letzten Jahrzehnt hat die New Yorker Komponistin und Produzentin Kelly Moran ihren Status als bahnbrechende Figur der modernen Musik gefestigt, indem sie die traditionell-klassische Denkrichtung des Klaviers mit einem zeitgenössisch-experimentellen Ansatz herausforderte. Es folgten Kollaborationen mit ähnlich visionären Künstler*innen wie Oneohtrix Point Never, FKA Twigs, Margaret Leng Tan, Kelsey Lu und Yves Tumor. Morans experimentelle Klavierkompositionen, die hypnotisierende Texturen und dramatische Spannungsbögen zaubern, werden regelmäßig in die Klassik-, Avantgarde- und Metal-Jahresbestenlisten aufgenommen, so wie die jüngsten Meisterwerke "Bloodroot" (2017) und "Ultraviolet" (2018), auf denen sie erweiterte Klaviertechniken erforscht, u.a. das von John Cage inspirierte, präparierte Klavier. Kellys neues Album "Moves In The Field" ist eine Reihe von Duetten für sich und das Yamaha Disklavier, einer technologisch fortschrittlichen Version des Pianos. Die eingesetzten Disklaviere sind in der Lage, durch intensive Feinabstimmung und programmierbare Dynamik das menschliche Spiel perfekt nachzubilden und dienen als Kontrast zu Morans Streben nach einem Gleichgewicht zwischen technischer Perfektion und emotionalem Ausdruck in ihren Auftritten und Kompositionen.

The One & Only Scott H. Biram showcases the singer's signature unapologetic style. Tracks like "No Man's Land" describe the hazards of growing up poor in a small Texas town, breathing the fumes from oil wells and brush fires. "Inside a Bar" captures the feel of an empty saloon on a slow Monday night. "I was going for the sound of loneliness and alcoholism colliding."

"I view my albums as collages, combining elements from punk, metal, blues, country, and bluegrass. They reflect the diverse aspects of life - it's not a concept but an expression," explained Biram.

With The One & Only Scott H. Biram the singer once again proves to be an unstoppable force and demonstrates his unique ability to live up to the traditions of rough-hewn, individualistic Texas-borne music.

Joe Webb, blending piano traditions with rock-star flair, releases 'Collblanc', a prelude on Edition Records to his 2024 album. Marrying '90s spirit with Jazz roots, Webb's unique artistry promises a contemporary musical revolution.

Collblanc by Joe Webb, released 29 March 2024.

This version of Collblanc comes as a 1x7".

The vinyl is pressed as a transparent, magenta disc.

Los Angeles-based Fabiano Do Nascimento is a multi-string guitarist and songwriter who melds the traditional idioms of his native Brazil (i.e., samba, choro) with the more contemporary and experimental strains of jazz, pop, and electronic music. Das Nuvens (“The Clouds”), out July 2023 on Leaving Records, is a crisp, frequently blissful, and deceptively groove-oriented showcase from a consummate musician — a rich and varied collection of songs, all of which seem to prioritize, and thrive in, the soft and intentional spaces between notes.

Das Nuvens constitutes the free-form, exploratory work of a musician who, having mastered a distinct musical language, seeks to apply his skill towards broader, more experimental modes of expression. Fittingly, track one — built around a contemplative, pointillistic refrain— is titled “Babel,” a reference to the legend of man’s attempt to build a tower to heaven, and how God thwarted this alleged act of hubris by shattering man’s shared language, sowing chaos and confusion. Though a stern parable on its face, it is a myth that enshrines our world’s dizzying array of languages (of modes of being), and the subsequent beauty of cultural exchange through art. In this regard, it is a fitting opening statement for an album that collapses and collages not only contemporary and classical Brazilian and pop idioms, but also the diverse range of indigenous music that Nascimento has encountered and studied in his travels as a touring musician.

White vinyl w/ pink splatter, limited to 500 copies. New Orleans death grind/hardcore group BRAT are the latest addition to the Prosthetic Records roster. Formed in 2021, BRAT deals out blastbeats, bass-laden breakdowns and old school death metal and New York hardcore inspired riffs. Through the melding of their influences the four-piece's sound stands out from the more sludge orientated sounds that the Crescent City is known for, catching the attention of the Los Angeles label in the process. Speaking on the singing announcement, BRAT comments: "We're thrilled to be part of a label that's put out so many quintessential metal albums of the last 25 years. It's an honor to have the opportunity to contribute to that list. Let's rock." "Upon completion of our record we felt Social Grace, the title track, really encompassed a broad snapshot stylistically of the album at large. The song is an environmental commentary on the effects of the wealthy on the state of our planet and further ties to the greater theme of our album that explores the various plights of mankind. In tandem with the single is our music video that draws inspiration from classic murder mysteries and depicts the ugly realities behind the pomp and circumstance of the aristocracy." BRAT's self described yassified look shirks more traditional metal imagery in favor of a pink-pilled Y2K aesthetic, with plenty of nods to their favorite femme pop icons. As the band sets their sights on making strides in the heavy metal and hardcore world, BRAT's end goal is to "put bimboviolence and barbiegrind on the map". Through a consistent live presence that includes touring alongside NOLA legends EYEHATEGOD, Ringworm, labelmates ACxDC, fellow grindsters in No/Mas and contemporaries in Maul and Morbid Visions, BRAT has garnered praise from the likes of Revolver, Metal Injection, Metal Sucks and many more as a new band to watch.

'Lost In The Night' is Palace's debut EP originally released in 2014. Now on Lewis Recordings the vinyl has been remastered and the CD comes as a gatefold. Whilst not a blues band in the traditional sense their blend of blues space rock is undeniably British with bluesy and soulful vintage overtones. Leo's sublime voice perfectly complements the dreamy ambient electric guitars creating a timeless sound, drawing comparisons to early Kings of Leon, Foals and past greats like Buffalo Springfield. Now signed to Fiction Records the band released two albums both critically and commercially acclaimed. Bassist William Dorey left Palace after their first album and now records under the name Skinshape. "It's darkly beautiful, with twilight seeming to break through every note." CLASH. // "It's a romance-bloomed introduction of the highest order." DIY // "Londoners Palace riff on Local Natives and Grizzly Bear's spacious, swooning sound."

Mix aus NDW, New Wave, Punk/Rock und Metal spannend wie die wilden 80er. Konkret bedeutet das: kräftige Gitarrenriffs, Ohrwurm-Hooklines sowie markanter Gesang, der zwischen kraftvoll klar und charmant ungehobelt variiert. Immer getragen von einem druckvoll- treibenden Fundament aus Bass und Drums. PIA UNITED feiert die ,Wiederauferstehung` des klaren und dabei gleichzeitig rotzig-frechen Lebensgefühls der 80er Jahre des letzten Jahrhunderts." Die Protagonisten dieser Band sind vier alte Hasen aus Ost und West, mit musikalischer Vergangenheit in Punk, Rock und Metal (Baujahre zwischen 1969 und 1979) und eine junge Häsin (Erstzulassung 2006). Dabei bringen Mon Général Lütsch, Sir Herrle, Rob a.D. und Costja Chaos Erfahrung aus dutzenden, durchaus erfolgreichen, Veröffentlichungen und mehreren hundert Konzerten (u.a. auch in Dubai und auf Rapa Nui/ Osterinsel) mit. Das junge, selbstbewusst- kesse Frollein Pia Höhne punktet dafür mit ihrer prägnanten Stimme und ihren erstaunlichen Fähigkeiten an Gitarre und Schlagzeug. Außerdem bringt sie als Dorfkind die Zugehörigkeit zur Freiwilligen Feuerwehr und zum lokalen Angelverein mit. Dass sie bei allen Entscheidungen das letzte Wort hat, versteht sich da von selbst. Als weiteres Alleinstellungsmerk: die Wortschöpfungskreativität. ,In der Tradition der Neuen Deutschen Welle, lassen wir Wörter entstehen, die ohne Erklärung auskommen. Und so für sich allein Bestand haben." Inspiriert von Kreationen wie ,Kebabträume" oder ,Mauerstadt" erschafft PIA UNITED eigene Wortschöpfungen. Beispielhaft dafür: ,Sirenendeutschland", ,Notwehrmodus" oder ,Spiellistengeschmack-Gewinnkomposition". Ein eigener Song sowie Feeling B-Cover "Artig auf der Flip.

Intranced bestehen aus Musikern der jüngsten Classic-Metal-Welle, die an der US-Ostküste aufgekommen ist (Mitglieder von unter anderem Fortress und Poisoned Chalice), und Sänger James-Paul Luna (ehemals Holy Grail und White Wizzard). Die Band gehört nach nur einer EP und Single zu den heißesten Newcomern der Szene.

Den Grund dafür erkennt man, wenn man die sechs Stücke ihres Erstlings Intranced (2022) und die zwei Songs von Rogue Warrior (2023) hört, denn das Quartett aus L.A. vereint schillernde Musikalität mit erhabenem Songwriting, was ihre Musik im Grunde genommen vom Start weg unverwüstlich macht.

"Ich wollte ein Old-School-Metal-Projekt starten, das immer noch ein Rock-Feeling aufweisen sollte", erklärt Sänger Luna. "Wie zu der Zeit, als sich Hardrock langsam in Metal verwandelte, aber immer noch Groove, Funk und Boogie enthielt." Ob traditioneller US-Power-Metal in Verbindung mit Rock'n'Roll-Großspurigkeit wie in ‚Upside Down', die Punk-Attitüde des ansonsten wehmütigen Epos ‚Dream Lover' oder die rasante Band-Hymne ‚Intranced' - Intranced setzen die Messlatte mit ihren ersten acht Songs unglaublich hoch an.

Die von einem Cover des legendären Künstlers Michael Whelan gekrönte EP ist nun zum allerersten Mal auf Vinyl erhältlich, inklusive Rogue Warrior als Bonus, um die Zeit bis zur Veröffentlichung von Intranceds erstem Album im Laufe des Jahres 2024 zu verkürzen.

Red Vinyl

Intranced bestehen aus Musikern der jüngsten Classic-Metal-Welle, die an der US-Ostküste aufgekommen ist (Mitglieder von unter anderem Fortress und Poisoned Chalice), und Sänger James-Paul Luna (ehemals Holy Grail und White Wizzard). Die Band gehört nach nur einer EP und Single zu den heißesten Newcomern der Szene.

Den Grund dafür erkennt man, wenn man die sechs Stücke ihres Erstlings Intranced (2022) und die zwei Songs von Rogue Warrior (2023) hört, denn das Quartett aus L.A. vereint schillernde Musikalität mit erhabenem Songwriting, was ihre Musik im Grunde genommen vom Start weg unverwüstlich macht.

"Ich wollte ein Old-School-Metal-Projekt starten, das immer noch ein Rock-Feeling aufweisen sollte", erklärt Sänger Luna. "Wie zu der Zeit, als sich Hardrock langsam in Metal verwandelte, aber immer noch Groove, Funk und Boogie enthielt." Ob traditioneller US-Power-Metal in Verbindung mit Rock'n'Roll-Großspurigkeit wie in ‚Upside Down', die Punk-Attitüde des ansonsten wehmütigen Epos ‚Dream Lover' oder die rasante Band-Hymne ‚Intranced' - Intranced setzen die Messlatte mit ihren ersten acht Songs unglaublich hoch an.

Die von einem Cover des legendären Künstlers Michael Whelan gekrönte EP ist nun zum allerersten Mal auf Vinyl erhältlich, inklusive Rogue Warrior als Bonus, um die Zeit bis zur Veröffentlichung von Intranceds erstem Album im Laufe des Jahres 2024 zu verkürzen.

Steeped in the sounds of electro disco, italo and new beat, Ace Vision is an artist raised on the synthesizer traditions of Italy.

Following on from his debut EP,”Not An Ordinary Story”, the musician returns with four pieces of crafted electronics; Snapping percussion lays a path for arcs of melody, bruised bass and computer game chords for the driving energy of “Enigmatic Flow.” The same rhythmic strength is carried into “Middle of the Night.” Kicks and snares are the foundation from which perfumed keys ascend. In the exquisite “Goodbye,” warm analogue waves are punctuated by beats while rolling arpeggios and soaring lines drift above vocoder lyrics. “Synthpop Voyager” ends the EP. Warm playful melodies are central in this elegant and emotional finale, crisp drum patterns being the central columns around which Ace Vision weaves his analogue tapestry. Four tracks that tell a very different musical tale.

INVOLUCIJA is an experimental post-industrial collaboration with artists from ex-Yugoslavian countries, started by Michel Morin (Sneak-Thief / Polygamy Boys) and Lucija Invo.

This 2×12″ on their new Berlin label expands on their 2023 debut EP on aufnahme+wiedergabe with even fiercer inspiration from EBM, techno & Balkan musical traditions.

“Involution” is a metaphor for the ever-entangling depth of our situation – the world falls apart then re-organizes itself with unexpected and sometimes distressing connections. Increasing effort is demanded for our “productivity” and our only reward is diminishing returns. Enough is enough!

INVOLUCIJA is envisioned as a noise abrasive enough to resonate with and overcome this ever-increasing discomfort from which we try to dissociate.

We call this euphoric deprogramming.”

"For his fourth full length album, we see the proficiency of instrumentalist and composer Prins Emanuel in full bloom as he turns head deep into the techniques he established on the preceding outing of Diagonal Musik. Here, he revisit what he refers to as a diagonal approach in composing; i.e. starting at one point and then moving to the farthest point in the process, as a way for him to connect the dots somewhere in the middle, or - like I previously described it for the liner notes of that album - “something akin to drawing only shadows and then finishing with the contours”.
And in the tradition of great sequels, this is a much larger and intricate production. While relying on the guitar as a formative backbone to many songs, the layering of brass and woodwinds houses these compositions in bold and sharply lit structures. Mallets and percussion adds an air of momentum but also grounds these tracks in earthy hues.
Thawed and gracious, Diagonal Musik II in essence creates a space that bridges the various paths of Prins Emanuel’s musical universe. At once post-minimalist and avant garde in nature while also peeking through the door at both IDM and folk music, the lingering sensation is that of a well balanced palate that doesn’t break under the presence of repetition. Enveloped in a fourth world approach to jazz and incorporating the more contemplative side of post punk or art pop, there is a story hidden in here that gives cause to the appropriation of these influences.
The inherent warmth of certain instruments play their part in this story. Emanuel often builds on the notion of ‘organic music’ but broadens the definition via subtle electronic enhancements that sit naturally alongside their acoustic counterparts. Take for instance the voice emulator sequence that opens “Kadens Tre” and is dashed on by guitar slides and flute drills to roll further down a hill of staccato percussion. A few tracks in, the lines are so blurred it becomes a natural state until the harsh and eerie sample loops of closing track “Östan Vind” finally breaks the spell. ”

John’s debut album was recorded at Tony Pyke’s home studio in Dryburgh Road, Putney in glorious mono and then mastered at Pye Studios, Marble Arch, London for the princely sum of £158. Recording and mastering was completed by 9 August and London Conversation was released when John was just nineteen in October 1967. Theo Johnson took the role of producer under the supervision of Chris Blackwell and the cover photograph of John perched amongst chimney pots was taken on the roof of Blackwell’s apartment. Talking to Music Week magazine in 2007 John recalled that he recorded the whole album in one afternoon in a two-track studio on Putney High Street.

The album is in the folk tradition and contains some excellent lyrics and jazzy instrumentation including the sitar and flute in Rolling Home. As a result it won praise and the instrumentation distinguished John from his contemporaries in the folk scene. Back To Stay is a beautiful love song with a sad and dreamy melody, a sign of things to come.

John took up guitar whilst at school and although he was only nineteen he was already acknowledged locally as an accomplished guitarist. He was influenced by two people in particular, amongst others, that he knew. “Les Brown, who is completely unknown and has never recorded…he plays a kind of American Doc Watson guitar very very well. Lovely voice. Also a friend of mine called Paul Wheeler who is featured on the second album.”

SAICOBAB channels the vital energy of living music traditions through ecstatic performance. NRTYA, Sanskrit for "dance", explores the shared roots of Japanese and Indian spiritual practices in a tangible, intoxicating form. YoshimiO"s experiments in this field are well documented and legendary from her work in OOIOO to her work in the Boredoms. Multi-instrumentalist Yoshida Daikiti reveals the human hand that shapes living traditions, as much through his fluid playing as his own collection of handmade instruments, while percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Motoyuki "Hama" Hamamoto embodies the metaphysical power of rhythm. YoshimiO"s wild vocal acrobatics and inimitable range shift from hypnotic chants to ethereal atmospherics and darting melodies, ducking and weaving around Daikiti"s serpentine sitar figures and basslines. Hama"s solid rhythmic architectures and deft polyrhythms are here enhanced by additional drums from Taketawa Yo2ro, slipping from subtle pulses to thundering grooves that drive the music. SAICOBAB"s music exudes a true reverence for living musical traditions while remaining unbound by orthodoxy. The electrifying energy of the quartet"s performance is palpable in every track, eliminating established hierarchies with performer and listener alike entwined in the same cosmic dance.

A resiny slab in the grand tradition of weed-fiend odysseys from Sleep, Weedeater and Bongzilla, ready to inebriate the riff-obsessed masses. Red-eyed at the crossroads of thunderous stoner sludge and towering doom, Hashtronaut are ready to daze and inebriate the riff-obsessed masses on this planet and beyond. No Return is a resiny slab In the grand tradition of weed-fiend odysseys from Sleep, Weedeater and Bongzilla, an intoxicating and pummeling journey through time and space infused with a lungful of potent hook-doom. Pummeling and intoxcating stoner metal for fans of Sleep, Bongzilla, Electric Wizard and Monolord LP pressed on sleek transparent yellow vinyl!

Curacao-blaues Vinyl, bedruckte Innenhülle. Farbe ltd auf 500 Exemplare

Hi! Spencer, plötzlich leicht wie eine Wolke? Cover und Titel des neuen Albums lassen das vermuten. Aber keine Sorge! „Wir machen immer noch furchtbar melancholische Songs“, sagt die Band, die sich traditionell in keine Schublade stecken lässt, sondern sich irgendwo zwischen Indie, Pop, Rock und Punk befindet. Und doch gibt es in „oben“ einen Twist, der neu ist für die Osnabrücker: Die Songs bleiben inhaltlich nicht da stehen, wo sie beginnen, bohren sich nicht immer tiefer rein in das Gefühl – sondern zeigen Lösungen und Ausblicke auf. Und so schließt „oben“ nahtlos an das letzte Album „memori“ an, denn wie hieß es dort so schön? „Doch das geht, fängt man an, die Perspektive zu drehen.“ Eine andere Sicht einnehmen, eine Situation so annehmen, wie sie ist – das ist ein wesentliches Thema in den neuen Hi! Spencer-Songs.

Das Wechselspiel aus oben sein, oben bleiben und immer mal wieder abzufallen bringt Frontsänger Sven Bensmann gewohnt stimmgewaltig zum Ausdruck. Und das Wissen darum: Es gibt keine pauschal gute Zeit, es gibt nur ein Akzeptieren der Tatsache, dass man irgendwann einen Umgang mit seinen Themen findet. Und sich dadurch oben hält. Nicht die Umstände sind es, die sich ändern – sondern der Blick darauf: „Es tut anders weh, weil ich jetzt versteh …“ („Vermissen“). In „oben“ geht es auch um den Erhalt des Guten und die Gewissheit, dass man immer mal wieder abdriften kann und wird. Und, etwa in Songs wie „Nebel“ oder „Juno“, dass auch andere einen aus einem Tief holen können – und es sich daher immer lohnt, Gutes hochleben zu lassen!

Passend dazu zeigt das Artwork der Platte erstmalig ein gemeinsames Foto der Fünf. Zentrales Element auf dem Cover ebenso wie bei Merch und Co ist die Wolke – denn kaum etwas ist weiter „oben“. Wolken sind leicht. Sie schweben. Sind hell, oft durchsichtig. Und doch können sie uns die Sicht vernebeln und regenschwer am Himmel hängen. Sie verschwinden, bilden sich neu. Driften ab. Lösen sich auf. Sie können alles sein.

Horsebeach aus Manchester um den charismatischen Sänger/Frontmann Ryan Kennedy stellen ihr fünftes Studioalbum vor. 'Things To Keep Alive' reicht von Beatles-artigen Balladen über verschwommenen Shoegaze bis zum aufwändigen Cover eines 2000er Pop-Klassikers. Trotz allem behält es die Horsebeach-DNA bei und bietet sogar Momente, die die Fans zurück zu Kennedys C86-inspirierter Debüt-LP (2014) führen. Das Ergebnis ist ihre bislang abwechslungsreichste und lohnendste Platte, inspiriert und gewachsen, und eine Wertschätzung von Dingen, die uns am Leben erhalten helfen.

Epischer, gewaltiger Doom mit Anspielungen auf Candlemass, Bolt Thrower, My Dying Bride und Iron Maiden! Die US-Doom-Crew Stygian Crown aus Los Angeles kehrt mit ihrem lang erwarteten zweiten Album 'Funeral For A King' auf dem etablierten Label Cruz Del Sur zurück, einer beeindruckenden LP, die auf der Grundlage von epischem Doom- und Death Metal basiert. Der Nachfolger ihres vielbeachteten Debüts aus dem Jahr 2020 bleibt dabei der weitläufigen Doom-Vorlage der Band treu, die auch Elemente des klassischen Metal und Death Metal enthält, aber driftet gelegentlich auch in traditionelles Metal-Territorium ab. Das Album wurde in fünf verschiedenen Studios von Los Angeles bis Melbourne, Australien, aufgenommen. Neben dem CD-Jewelcase gibt es auch eine schwarze Vinyl inkl. Download uns Poster.

Rock Hard:
"...Für den Zweitling hat der Fünfer seine selbst proklamierten, allerdings bereits auf dem Vorgänger höchstens marginal heraushörbaren Death-Metal-Einflüsse noch weiter zurückgestellt. Hier regieren Doom- und Epic Metal in Reinstform. Einen charmanten Farbtupfer setzen die im kurzen Intro ´Let Thy Snares Be Planted´ sowie dem anschließenden Longtrack ´The Bargain´ zum Zuge kommenden Streichinstrumente, die dezent und nicht selbstzweckhaft eingesetzt werden, während der Fokus auf den schweren Gitarren und der fantastischen Arbeit von Sängerin Melissa Pinion verweilt. Was für ein Auftakt ins Doom-Jahr 2024!"

Fado music’s fastest-rising stars, Portuguese singer Sara Correia’s acclaimed third album Liberdade is a triumph. Sara arrives in 2023 with the status of a phenomenon: she has travelled the world to great acclaim, nominated for a Latin Grammy along with her appearances as a judge on the hugely popular Portuguese version of reality singing competition The Voice. Sara Correia’s smoky and passionate voice captures love and power, sadness and joy, the city of Lisbon and the Portuguese soul. Inhabiting the space between traditional, dark Fado and its modern, lighter incarnation, her mellifluous toplines are influenced by French chanson.